Fruit and vegetable sizer



1934- J. E. KIMSEY ET AL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SIZER Filed April 12, 1952 INVENTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet l cfohn EKKim C2151- @mgmimz;

L T liKin zsey ATTORNEY g- 4- J. E. KIMSEY ET AL 1,969,138

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SIZER Filed April 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS ciohn EiKL'msey Cwi T V. Kinqsey BY Q ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1934 1} FRUIT AND .v GE'TABLE' sizEn Kimsey and Carl ki msey," r v V Yakima, Wash.

John E.

This invention relates-to the sizing of fruit and vegetables of that character which while theo-. retically of circular cross section are apt to.b'e fiat on one side or the other so that an erroneousor inaccurate sizing is obtained withthe use. of the ordinary apparatus. Such ordinary apparatus consists. essentially of a slot formed .between transversely spacedelements, such as end less traveling belts or ropes disposed in gradu-- ally diverging relation to each other so that the articles, carried along on the belts will drop through the slots at different intervals depending on the size of the articles relative. tothat of the slots- If the articles are positioned on the belts so that their flat sides, if any, are alined with the slots such articles will drop through before their actual size warrants it and they become placed with the articles of an actual lesser size so that the sizing obviously is not accurate.

The principal object of our invention is to avoid the objectionable and defective features of such apparatus by the provision of an extra belt'or traveling elementso arranged relative to the others as topreventthe complete drops ping of the articles from between the main. slot forming elements unless said article is of .the actual size of the corresponding portion of the slots. In other words, an article larger in. one direction than the other and in which the larger dimension determines its size, will be retained-and willfnot drop clear of the sizing structure until it reaches the proper receiving bin for such size, even though the article has initially passed through the main slot ahead of, the bin'on-account of its relatively small dimensions caused by one or moreflat sides. ,1, y A further object is .to provide a simple means: foradjusting all the beltelements simultane-; ously so that the spacing therebetween maybe adjusted according to different requirements while maintaining the spaced relation; between; said elements constant at alltimes. I A further object oftheinvention is to pro duce a-simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly efiectivefor'the pur pose for which it is designed] I, I V

These objects we accomplish by means oi. such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusalfof the following specification, and claims. In the drawings similar characterspt' reference indicate corresponding parts inthe several viewsi 1 1 is-a'sideelevation of the improv'edsizer. Fig.2 is a top plan view of the'same." T

Figs. '3 and 4.-are enlarged fragmentary transverse sections taken on the line 3-3 of- Fig. 2 showing the adjusting device indifferent positions. I r

Refer'ringnow more particularly'to the characters of reference on'the drawings, the apparatus comprises a pair of transversely spaced-belts 1 extending in divergingrelation to each other and mounted onthe endpulleys 2'disposed with their axes horizontal. The outer faces of these belts are preferably convexed crosswise and are formed with"inwardlyprojecting flanges 3 along their sides. These flanges form the locating and enclosing means for supporting strips 4, and also prevent'possible contact of the articles with the stationary strips. 5 I f A hopper 5 is associated with the belts at their closely spaced ends so that the articles being sized will be directly received on the belts and carried along" the same with the movement of said belts. Bevelled strips 6 extend'along and above the belts from the hopper toward the op-' p'osite' end of said belts, the strips covering all but the adjacent'portions of-the belts and aidin'g guiding and maintaining the articles in place thereon. v e

' Mounted: below and centrally between the belts 1 is another belt? which is preferably ofcircular formso that but little area and 'no sharp edges for contact with the articles are presented. This belt is carried on end pulleys 8; the adjacent on'es'of the'pulleys 8 and 2 being connected in driving relation as by a chain gear 9, so that said belts will be driven at a common speed and in the same direction. A driving means 'of suitv able character may be applied to the shaft of one pulley by a drive pulley 10 or other element thereon. Y

- .The'. upper runs ofthe three belts are those usedlto engage the articles to ,be sized, and-they are so disposed relativeto each other that the distance between* theiradjacent surfaces in straight. lines is'th'e same; and the beltsare driven so that the upper runs move away, from the hopper. Separate receiving bins 11 are 'posi- 1'00 tioned under the belts so as to receive the sized articles as they dropfromthe belts and maintain them segregated. Cushioned deflecting aprons 12 are preferably provided in symmetrical relation. to and below thegcentral belt 7 so as to break theiall of the articles.

' The belts and strips 4. are supported against sagging'at intervals and are also simultaneously adjusted as to their spacing by the following means: 7 i v V Surrounding the belts in symmetrical but spaced relation thereto at intervals are bands 13 rigidly supported in connection with the frame 3 In operation if an article 26 1 account of the fact that all Work 14 of the apparatus. Each band has stems 15 slidably projecting therethrough substantially radial thereof from the opposite sides of the belts 1; said stems carrying brackets 16 on which the adjacent portions of the strips 4 and 6 are supported. A similarstem 17 depends through the band from adjacent the belt 7 and has a saddle 18 thereon for the support of the'adjacent portion of said belt '7. Compression springs19: on all the stems outwardly of the band act to pull the stems away from the center of th'e-bandr Turnably mounted in the band isa -ring .20 having on its'inner periphery a"niimberof cams 21 positioned to simultaneously engage rollers 22 or other members projectingflaterally from the' A handle 23 on thering proa jects radially therefrom through a slot 24 in the diiferent stems.

bandsogthat the-ring may beeasily turned. The cams ,are arranged so that when said, ring. is turned, the belts approach or move :away from each other to such an extent that the relative spacing therebetweenqis maintained equally at all times. There are anumber of such adjusting units in the length of the belts and since each unitis adjustable independently of the othersany desired angle of divergence or spacing between the belts to suit diiferent conditions may be evident.

beingsized drops between the upper belts 1 on account of its relatively flat side being presented to the adjacent bereadily obtained as will edges of said belts, said article will move down until its bottom is engaged by the lower belt 7. Since the large or full diameter-of the article is thendisposed vertically and is greater thanthe spacing between, either, ofthe belts 1 and 7, it

5 will be held in place by said belts until, with the movement of the belts and thegradualincrease in .width of the spaces therebetween it reaches a point where such space is equal to or exceeds that of the large diameter of the article, I At this 1; point said-article will drop through and will be received by the apron 12. The article will hold its position in engagement with one or the other of the belts 1 and the belt 7 untilit is actually freeand in proper-position to drop through on the belts are traveling at the same speed. H From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that-we have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set'forthherein.

Whilethis specification-sets forth in detail the,

' present and preferred construction of the device,-

still in practice such deviations from such detaiLmayJbe resorted to as do not form a departure from theispiritof the invention, as defined by the appended claims. w

' Having thus described our invention what. we claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fruit and vegetable sizer comprising a pair of transversely spaced members disposed relative to each other to form a space therebetween of increasing width intermediate their ends, and a third member disposed under said pair of mem-. bersin such relation thereto that the direct distance between said third member and either of three of said members simultaneously to unimeans to simultaneously and uniformlymove all three of the belts to and from each other at will to alter the spacing thereof while maintaining its relative uniformity. j 3 3'. A fruit and vegetable sizer comprising three substantially horizontal belts, the upper runs of two of which lie in a common horizontal plane while theupper run of the other belt is disposed therebelow, and the spacing between the adjacent edges of adjacent pair of belts being the same, supporting elementsfor said runs of the belts, the upper belts overlapping and engaging their supporting elements so that lateral movement of the latter will impartsimilar movement to the'belts supported thereby, and means applied to all said elements to move the same to and from each other simultaneously. o,

, 4. YA fruit and vegetable sizer comprising three substantially horizontal belts-the upper runs of which are disposed relative to eachother in a transverse plane at the apices of a triangle supporting elements forsaid runs of the belts and engaging the same so that lateral movement of the elements will move said runs laterally, and

means to move all said elements to and from each other simultaneously; said means comprising a fixed band through which all said belts and their supporting elements pass, stems secured to the elements .and slida'bly projecting through the band substantially radially'thereof, a ring turnably mountedin theband, cams in said ring, members projecting from the stems inside the ring, and separate cams for said members fixed in said ring and positioned for simultaneous engagement with the respective members,

I 5. A fruit and vegetable sizer comprising three substantiallyv horizontal belts the .upper runs of whichare disposed relative to each other in a transverse plane at the apices of a triangle so that the straight line distance between adjacent edges of adjacent belts is substantially the same, each belt being mounted in'a support, yieldable means normally holding the supports in fixed position, and means to simultaneously move all of said supports. against the action of such yielding means touniformly adjust-the relative spacing between the belts.

- between the belts.

7. A fruit and vegetable sizer including a frame, three pins movable axially through the frame, one pin lying in'a plane between and substan tially at right angles to the plane of the other pins, a support oneach pin, one run'of a belt movable through each support, ,and means. to simultaneously and uniformly move all'of the'pins to vary the relative spacing between" the belts. 8. A fruitand vegetable sizer including a frame, three pins movable axially through the frame, one pin lying in a plane between and substantiala 1y. at right angles to. the plane of, the --other pins,

- a suppo t on each pin, one run at a. be t mo ab 10. A fruit and vegetable sizer including a frame, three pins movable axially through the frame, one pin lying in a plane between and substantially at right angles to the plane of the other pins, a support on each pin, one run of a belt movable through each support, an abutment on each pin, three wedge cams, and means to simultaneously and uniformly move the cams between the abutments and frame to move the pins and adjust the relative spacing between the belts.

JOHN E. KIMSEY. CARL W. KIMSEY. 

